Newstalgia Rules
By Dan Kahn
Date posted: 01-20-2005

Growing up, everyone has a favorite pair of sneakers. Special shoes that were broken in just right, making a kid feel like he can run faster, jump higher and look cooler than anyone else on the playground. For us, those shoes were a well-worn pair of Chuck Taylor All-Stars.

Invented by Converse Shoes in 1923, All-Stars were the first true high-top sneaker and have remained in production for 80 years. A thin slab of flat rubber shrouded in canvas, "Chucks" are expensive for what you get, don't offer much support and aren't very comfortable when compared to modern footwear. The only thing they're good for is looking cool.



The same can be said for Chevrolet's latest retro cruiser. Introduced last year as a 2004 model, the Super Sport Roadster (SSR) looks like it just rolled off the auto show floor. Its unique lines are a tribute to the balloon-fendered pickups of the early '50s, revised with modern aerodynamics and safety in mind. From its raked-out stance and aluminum grille to the barking exhaust and gigantic alloy wheels, the SSR simply drips cool, even if it isn't the most practical vehicle on the lot.

Same Backbone, New Heart:
When Chevrolet decided to take the SSR from popular concept car to actual production vehicle, it kept costs under control by using a platform already in production. The roadster's backbone is borrowed from the TrailBlazer/Envoy twins, a pair of SUVs that aren't exactly known for their sporty driving dynamics.



Bilstein sport shocks and heavy-duty sway bars were added to give the SSR a sportier ride, and they do a pretty good job keeping the big pickup reined in. Responding to complaints that the steering in the '04 model felt a little numb, Chevy also added a new steering system that lends the truck a much more confident feel around corners.

When we drove an SSR last year, our loudest complaint was that a 300-horsepower, 5.3-liter V8 didn't have enough beans to propel the 4,700-pound SSR. With a price tag a tick under $50 large, we expected the Super Sport to offer some modicum of performance.



One advantage of GM's corporate parts-sharing policy is that engines like the Corvette's all-aluminum LS2 can make their way into other vehicles. So, in typical hot-rod fashion, the boys in the bow-tie engineering department stuffed the fire-breathing 6.0-liter V8 into the SSR. They also added the Vette's six-speed manual transmission as an option, but those who prefer to let the car handle shifting duties can still get a four-speed automatic.

To put things simply, bumping the SSR's output up to 390 hp makes all the difference in the world. The '04 model we tested last year ran zero to 60 in 7.9 seconds and the quarter-mile in 15.92 at a meager 69 mph. We didn't get a chance to test our '05 at the track, but our butt-o-meter tells us that the new engine should shave at least a second off both those numbers. More importantly, it's much more fun to drive, and with the traction control turned off, the drop-top roadster can belt out burnouts the way every self-respecting hot rod should.

The SSR's biggest crowd-pleaser is its retractable hard top, which folds completely out of sight in a matter of seconds with the push of a single button. With the top up, the pickup is relatively quiet and comfortable. Top-down cruising is a lot noisier, but still not uncomfortable.



Interior ergonomics are unchanged and totally uncomfortable, from the out-of-reach window switches to cupholders that look like they were tacked on at the last second. The leather bucket seats, on the other hand, are supportive and the truck offers a surprising amount of legroom, but storage space is at a minimum. Also on the plus side, the Bose stereo pumps out clear tunes even with the top folded down.

If the poor cupholder design or the lack of a proper glovebox sounds like a major inconvenience, the SSR is clearly not for you. This is a pure vanity car. It looks cool, sounds cooler and, thanks to a new motor, offers grin-inducing performance with a throaty exhaust note to match. The $46K price tag is pretty steep, but if you crave hot-rod style without the inconvenience of driving an old car, the SSR is a solid choice.

Edmunds.com

redriderbob

 

Mark my words: the extra 90hp will not save this white elephant.

It's the answer to a question nobody asked.

 

It's a PT Cruiser Convertible and a Prowler forced together lol. I have always hated this thing.

 

This thing was an eyesore since the day it was concieved. Please, GM, do away with this!